Here's the question ... Will I be able to sideload epubs into the Nook HD? I just got finished chatting with a representative on the B&N website, and she said one will be able to sideload epubs from any source into the new Nook HD. But weren't there problems doing that with the previous Nook color tablet? Does anyone know if that is true? If it really can handle epubs from any source, I think I'll be going in that direction.

Sideloading ePubs has always been available on the Nook family of eReaders.

What I find amusing is that in the spring Apple was pimping raw resolution numbers.
Today they're pimping surface area.
Like,duh; yeah, an 8in tablet has a bigger display than a 7incher.
Is that really supposed to be a feature worth US$130?
Then how about 9in and triple the resolution plus double the RAM and still cheaper?
Spin me a new story...

By then everyone will have time to digest the new Apple products. The time difference on the east coast didn't leave much time. Reviewers and bloggers will analyze the devices. Today Apple dropped 3% mostly due to the ipad mini's higher than expected price. But they did announce other news.

By then everyone will have time to digest the new Apple products. The time difference on the east coast didn't leave much time. Reviewers and bloggers will analyze the devices. Today Apple dropped 3% mostly due to the ipad mini's higher than expected price. But they did announce other news.

Also, more corporate earnings will be released.

I see, just wasn't sure what you were getting at, it's big corporate earnings time and most results are not much good.

Sideloading ePubs has always been available on the Nook family of eReaders.

Hey thanks. And I assume that the integration has always been seamless into their native reading app? I mean, all the epub covers showed up? And side loaded books were mixed in with those purchased directly from B&N (as opposed to being shunted off to the side)?

I seem to recall one of the closed system color tablets first accepting any epubs (with rooting only) but then later versions made that even impossible. Perhaps that was the original Kindle Fire.

Hey thanks. And I assume that the integration has always been seamless into their native reading app? I mean, all the epub covers showed up? And side loaded books were mixed in with those purchased directly from B&N (as opposed to being shunted off to the side)?

We'll be kicked in our back sides for going off topic, but to answer your question, with the exception of the nook classic (which had separated libraries for sideloaded and purchased items), all other nooks show the sideloaded and purchased items seamlessly in a single library. There have been some issues with the covers not displaying though, but that's very easy to fix with Sigil or Calibre - the nooks are a bit picky with how the cover should be specified in the manifest.

Yeah, I guess I'm just not sure what folks expected as far as cost. Apple really doesn't care much to be competitive price-wise with these other smaller tablets. They're going to outsell them regardless, so why not do it at the highest price?

Personally, I'm rather invested in the Apple ecosystem just because I've been using it longer and have grown familiar with it. And I think it works well for what I use these things for, and I've never had any complaints. So I'm more apt to overspend on this smaller iPad (the large iPads have never really interested me) than say I would on the new Kindle because I prefer Apple's setup. Which is more important to me than pixel counts and what not. I think Apple realizes there are a ton of users out there like me willing to do the same. No need to lower the price to be competitive with the hundreds of different tablets coming out all the time when the huge user base you already have developed will pay a premium.

I really find the tech fights interesting, with the "haters" and "fanboys", since things like blind loyalty and passion have have never been aspects of my tech consumption. I've used Windows, Android, Amazon, Apple, etc for many years and really see pros and cons with any piece of technology. I just happen to prefer the ecosystem of Apple right now since it's familiar and has worked for me without issue through several different devices for a long time now. And a smaller iPad seems like something that I would prefer to my Kindle Fire, whose setup I count as worse for my needs than my iPhone or iPod.

So it always strikes me odd when some people get up in arms about overspending on "fewer specs". I think there is a large number of tech users like me, who are more concerned with the ecosystem than they are on the latest and greatest tech (knowing the tech will get outdated soon anyway, while the ecosystem has more staying power). And when we're talking about things like this new iPad anyway, or any of the other great devices around, its not like we're comparing ultrabooks to Tandy's or anything. Unless someone puts a better screen right next to the one I'm using, I'll never know what the difference is anyway.

I think what surprised me about it is that they're diving into a market not known for having "...and damn the expense!" users. This is a market where value matters. The iPad Mini seems to be tailor-made for those who don't mind spending iPad money, but just want it in a smaller size. I don't think that market's that large. I think that for most people, if they wanted a tablet with the iOS ecosystem, they already bought one. That's not to say they won't sell like hotcakes, but they won't sell like hotcakes smothered in crack, like iDevices usually do.

Apple fans will camp out to buy them and eventually millions will be sold.

I don't know ... something is telling me now, that is not going to happen this time.

I actually saw in the news, people saying they would NOT buy anything above 300 bucks. We will have to see, but remember, this is not a 10 inches tablet, and iPhones have a carrier subsidized price, so the pain is lower on those cases...